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Nottingham Forest are reportedly advancing in their talks to sign Monaco full-back Ismail Jakobs, as manager Steve Cooper looks to bolster his side with added quality this summer.

The Reds will be firmly on the hunt to add star talent ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, after settling towards the bottom of the table for the majority of their return season in the Premier League last term.

What’s the latest on Ismail Jakobs to Nottingham Forest?

As reported by Fabrizio Romano this week, Forest are closing in on the Ligue 1 defender.

"Understand Nottingham Forest are now in advanced talks to sign Ismail Jakobs as new left-back," he tweeted. "Player keen on the move, negotiations advancing on clubs side with AS Monaco to reach an agreement soon."

Contracted to Monaco until 2026, the 23-year-old was picked up by the French side in 2021 from 1. FC Koln for a fee of €6.5m (£5.5m).

How good is Ismail Jakobs?

Having previously been dubbed as a “diamond” by U23 scout Jacek Kulig, the defender sparkled in Ligue 1 last term when given the chance to showcase his talents.

Across 32 appearances in the league last season, the Senegalese gem rose through the ranks of Koln’s academy in his journey to becoming a recognised figure in Europe.

As per FBref, the full-back averaged in the top 1% in terms of his average number of aerials won, recording 3.90 per 90 in 1222 minutes played over the past year.

Deployable anywhere on the left side, the defensively-minded machine could be a strong acquisition for Forest, who seek a new left-back ahead of the new season following the departure of Renan Lodi.

Captured on loan from Atletico Madrid last summer, the Brazilian bid farewell after an impressive cameo at the City Ground, in which he made 28 appearances for the Reds.

There was speculation as to whether Cooper would opt to sign the 25-year-old on a permanent basis however on returning to Madrid, he was snatched by Marseille to put an abrupt end to the rumours.

Now, the Welshman could seek a replacement for Lodi in Jakobs, who could pose to be an upgrade edition of the Brazilian on the left side.

In the former Atletico ace, Forest had a reliable defensive presence, with him averaging 2.11 tackles per 90 and winning 54% of his total duels.

Similarly to Lodi, the Monaco ace won 56% of his total duels in Ligue 1, however, he did excel the former Reds whiz in other areas that are desired for a full-back in the Premier League.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old was a powerhouse in getting forward for his side, as highlighted by his 3.14 progressive carries and 3.70 progressive passes per 90, compared to the Brazilian’s 0.98 progressive carries and 1.26 progressive passes per 90 in England.

Most prominently the “class” progressive defender, as lauded by Mango, was a real threat in the final third as an overlapping presence on the flank, as told by his monstrous average of receiving 8.77 progressive passes per 90 in Ligue 1.

Lodi averaged just 2.85 progressive passes received per 90, suggesting just how much of a live wire Cooper could equip to the left side of his squad, in a player competent to defend and get forward.

Celtic ended their penultimate pre-season friendly with a 1-1 draw against Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in Ireland.

The Hoops were without a number of first-team central defensive options for the match as Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Yuki Kobayashi, and Maik Nawrocki were all out due to injury.

What's the latest on Carl Starfelt's future?

Football Scotland recently reported that Spartak Moscow are preparing an offer to sign Starfelt from the Scottish giants to bolster their defensive options.

However, it remains to be seen how much they are willing to pay for the 28-year-old enforcer or how much the Bhoys would demand for his services.

The outlet stated that the club could be forced back into the market to replace the Sweden international before September's deadline but Rodgers may already have a dream replacement for him in the building with Liam Scales.

How many appearances did Liam Scales make last season?

Celtic decided to send the 24-year-old titan out on loan to Aberdeen during the 2022/23 campaign and he ended the season with 31 Scottish Premiership matches under his belt, which included 30 starts.

He has gained vital experience at that level after Ange Postecoglou only handed him five league appearances throughout his first year in Scotland after a move from Shamrock Rovers.

The Irish colossus caught the eye defensively with 2.9 tackles and interceptions combined per match, whilst he also won an impressive 65% of his individual duels.

Starfelt, meanwhile, came out on top in 67% of his battles and made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game – the most of any current defender within the squad – for Celtic across 28 outings last season.

These statistics show that both players are dominant centre-backs who can outmuscle opposition forwards consistently and are able to win possession back for their team on a regular basis at Premiership level.

Scales averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 for Aberdeen and made two errors leading to a shot or goal for the opposition, whereas Starfelt averaged a rating of 7.21 and made three costly mistakes. This means that the former Shamrock Rovers gem may be less of a liability at the back when it comes to making major blunders.

Whilst the 6 foot 2 colossus did not perform to the same standard as the Spartak target on a consistent basis, he played in a team that finished 42 points behind the Hoops and could thrive in a better side if given the opportunity.

Rodgers stated after the game against Wolves that Scales is "excellent" and that he really likes the young central defender, which suggests that the former Dons loanee has caught the manager's eye throughout pre-season.

As a naturally left-footed player, the £5k-per-week gem could be the perfect replacement for Starfelt as the Swedish brute is a right-footed defender who largely played on the left side next to Carter-Vickers last season.

Scales could offer balance in possession as he is able to use his stronger foot to open up and play the ball down the left flank, whereas Starfelt often has to readjust to distribute possession down that side.

Therefore, Rodgers could save Celtic millions by unleashing Scales at centre-back if the Bhoys end up cashing in on the 28-year-old warrior this summer.

In a remarkable end to a dramatic match, Warwickshire skittled Middlesex for 136 at Lord’s to claim their first win of the season in the Specsavers County Championship’s Division One by a thumping 190-run margin.

ECB Reporters Network08-Aug-2017
1:06

County Championship round-up: Warwickshire secure first win

In a remarkable end to a dramatic match, Warwickshire skittled Middlesex for 136 at Lord’s to claim their first win of the season in the Specsavers County Championship’s Division One by a thumping 190-run margin.Chris Woakes, completing a successful comeback from a two-month injury lay-off, took 3 for 38 as he and Keith Barker, who snapped up the first three wickets to fall and finished with 3 for 21, left the Middlesex second innings in ruins.And all this, on a humiliating day for the champions, after Barker and Chris Wright had earlier taken their unlikely ninth-wicket partnership to 97 as Warwickshire, who resumed on 293 for 8, reached 361 in their own second innings to set Middlesex 327 to win on a pitch which had seemingly flattened out following the opening-day carnage of 20 wickets.Gubbins’ England hopes hit by injury

Nick Gubbins’ hopes of an England call-up appear to be over after suffering a hamstring injury during Middlesex’s defeat at Lord’s.
While Gubbins has not enjoyed the best of seasons – he has scored just one Championship century and is averaging 24.91 – he has a reputation as one of the best players of fast bowling on the circuit and is thought to have the game to flourish on the pitches anticipated in Australia.
With Keaton Jennings enduring a grim series against South Africa and Haseeb Hameed struggling for form, Gubbins had been mentioned as a potential replacement in recent days. He played for England Lions over the winter and only just missed out on selection when Jennings was called-up during the India series.
With England’s squad for the first Investec Test against West Indies scheduled to be named on Friday, it seems Gubbins is unlikely to be considered for a call-up. George Dobell

Middlesex, it is true, were hampered by injuries to openers Nick Gubbins and Sam Robson – Gubbins was forced to come in at No 8 after tearing a hamstring in the field – but the way both their batting and bowling fell away in this game will be of great concern to them.Warwickshire, meanwhile, though they may well remain bottom of Division One when this round of matches is done, are now only 31 points behind Middlesex – who began this game in fifth place – with five matches remaining for both counties in this summer’s campaign.Barker ended up on 62 not out from 109 balls, with eight fours, after resuming on 30 and his stand with Wright, who made an 83-ball 41 before being caught behind off Steven Finn, flourished in a morning session in which the Middlesex bowlers huffed and puffed to little effect.Leg spinner Nathan Sowter then earned himself a maiden first-class wicket by bowling last man Ryan Sidebottom for 1, but by then the damage done was not just to Middlesex’s morale. Gubbins, in attempting to take a sprawling catch off a top-edged Barker hook as he ran in from long leg, hurt himself so badly that he had to be helped from the field by Middlesex’s medical staff.Gubbins was unable to open, meaning Nick Compton was promoted to partner Robson, who used Sowter as a runner as he made 19 despite a leg injury before being first out.Middlesex were 20 without loss at lunch but that proved only to be the calm before the storm. The headlong collapse began at the start of the second over after the interval with Robson pinned leg-before by Barker who then, later in the same over, had Stevie Eskinazi taken at second slip for 2.Left-armer Barker struck again in his next over, this time going around the wicket to surprise Compton with a nasty lifter that he touched to keeper Tim Ambrose to go for 3.And 28 for 3 became 28 for 4 when Woakes nipped one off the seam to have John Simpson leg-before for 4. Ryan Higgins, after one extra cover driven four, was also leg-before to Woakes for 5 in the England all-rounder’s next over, and the same bowler soon breached James Franklin’s defences to bowl the Middlesex captain for 1.From 45 for 6 there were a few defiant blows from Sowter, who had been joined by Gubbins and runner on Franklin’s dismissal, before his 37 ended when he turned the first ball of Sidebottom’s second over straight into the hands of short leg.Middlesex’s tail was cleaned up by off spinner Jeetan Patel and right-arm seamer Sidebottom, who added 2 for 41 to his first innings’ 4 for 29 and completed a memorable championship debut by winning an leg-before appeal against Gubbins on 15 to finish the match. Patel had Tom Helm taken at first slip for 15 and bowled Tim Murtagh for 0 to give himself figures of 2 for 19.A last wicket frolic by No 11 Finn and the injured Gubbins, who added a quickfire 48 with Finn playing some superb shots in his unbeaten 31, provided scant consolation for Middlesex, who for much of the first two days were clear favourites to win this game.For Warwickshire, bowled out for just 126 at the start of the match, this was a significant victory – especially as they had lost five of their previous eight games. Bowling out Middlesex for 161 on a helter-skelter opening day kept them in the contest, and then a gritty second innings batting effort on day two took the sting out of Middlesex’s seam attack.When day three dawned, however, with their lead a seemingly middling 258 on an easing pitch, they could not have dreamed of winning so decisively or so quickly. It is a result which could yet have ramifications for the ultimate destiny of both sides this season.

Everton are making progress in their pursuit of Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto, and there is now a feeling that a deal could go through, according to a report from TuttoMercatoWeb.

Is Wilfried Gnonto signing for Everton?

It has recently been reported that Leeds manager Daniel Farke expects to sell Gnonto before the transfer window shuts, having already sanctioned his departure, with the Toffees in talks to snap him up.

Sean Dyche is said to be a big admirer of the winger's dynamism and versatility, having featured in several attacking roles for the Whites last season, but it has been very difficult to get a deal over the line up to this point.

Leeds have been playing hardball in negotiations, with an agreement between the two clubs yet to be struck, meaning Everton have now started to run the rule over potential alternative options.

Talks have been held over a potential loan move for Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana, with the Merseysiders growing frustrated in their pursuit of the Leeds ace, but they are now close to making a breakthrough in negotiations.

Read The Latest Everton Transfer News HERE…

That is according to a report from TuttoMercatoWeb, which details that the Toffees have made a €20m (£17m) offer for the 19-year-old, just shy of the Whites' asking price of €22m (£19m).

It is stated that Everton could soon hold personal talks with the Italian, who is their main target to strengthen their attack, and there is now a feeling that the deal could end up going through.

The two clubs are still some way apart in their valuation of the Italian, but the gap is closing, and it now appears as though Leeds may finally be willing to soften their stance, having previously been extremely tough in their negotiations.

How good is Wilfried Gnonto?

The starlet was praised by former manager Jesse Marsch for the impact he made at Elland Road last season, in what was a breakthrough year as he was lauded as "fantastic". However, he was unable to help Leeds retain their place in the Premier League.

In 24 top-flight appearances, the Italy international amassed two goals and four assists, which is not a bad return in a struggling side, but it casts doubt over whether he would be able to hit the ground running at Goodison Park.

Of course, the Toffees also struggled last season, avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth on the final day of the season, and it is unclear whether the Verbania-born ace would be able to make an immediate impact to help them compete higher up the table in the upcoming campaign.

The Leeds winger is still very young, with plenty of time on his side to develop further, but he ranks in just the 24th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and the 37th percentile for shot-creating actions.

There are indications that Sulemana could be a better addition to Dyche's squad, with the Southampton ace averaging more successful take-one and non-penalty goals per 90 in the past year.

Signing Gnonto for £19m is a real risk for Everton, given that he is inexperienced, and while Sulemana may be available on loan, the Italian did show some promising signs for Leeds last season, so could end up being an astute signing.

Despite having a valid visa like his team-mates, Rubel Hossain was not given a boarding pass because of a new rule issued by the South African immigration authorities

Mohammad Isam19-Sep-2017Fast bowler Rubel Hossain could not travel with the Bangladesh Test squad to Johannesburg on Saturday after he was denied a boarding pass by the airlines. Rubel remained in Dhaka and, while his availability for Bangladesh’s three-day warm-up match against SA Invitations XI – from September 21 – is in doubt, the Bangladesh Cricket Board is confident he will be available for the Test series, which starts from September 28.Even though Rubel had a valid visa like his team-mates, the South Africa immigration authorities have a new provision in which, despite anyone having a visa, they issue “Okay to board” assurances to the airlines, specifying who can fly. Rubel’s name was missing from that list. Akram Khan, the BCB’s cricket committee chairman, attributed the situation to a mistake in the visa issued to Rubel.”The South Africa visa office made a mistake in his visa,” Akram said. “It has to do with his date of birth. It will take a day or two to correct everything. He can go before the Test series. He is an important player, so we cannot deprive him because of miscommunication.”BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury, too, said that the board was communicating with Cricket South Africa while the airlines were also aiding them to quickly resolve the issue.”There is a new provision that the passenger needs to have an ‘Okay to Board’ clearance from the ultimate destination. It is the responsibility of the concerned airlines before issuing the boarding pass to any individual,” Chowdhury explained. “We are in touch with Cricket South Africa and hopefully, the matter will be resolved soon. He will fly to South Africa with the first available flight once the matter is resolved.”Rubel was one of three players – alongside Subhasis Roy and Mahmudullah – to have earned a recall in the Bangladesh Test side. There are, however, four other fast bowlers in the touring party, including Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shafiul Islam and Subashis, that Bangladesh can rely on.

The match between Hyderabad and Maharashtra was abandoned without a ball bowled

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2017Group A
ScorecardWhile centuries from Nitish Rana and Gautam Gambhir had already secured a first-innings lead for Delhi on the second day, they had a chance to pull off an outright win over Assam on the fourth day in Delhi.With Assam falling for 255 in their second innings, Delhi were left with a target of 79, of which they managed 49 for 2 in eight overs. Delhi batsman Unmukt Chand claimed that Assam were expected to bowl 14 overs and the game would have had a different result if that had happened.”Of course, it was very deliberate. They were supposed to bowl 14 overs and at least they should have bowled 10 or 11 overs, but bowling half of the overs does not make sense,” Chand said after the match. “It’s not about winning, it’s more about those points. These three points make a lot of difference in the end.”I was constantly telling the umpires to make sure that these guys are bowling quick overs. They did tell them, but they were too slow and you can’t do much about it. Of course, the light was also falling. Two-three overs more, and things could have been different. But you can’t really point out that this right or this is wrong. Any team in that position would have done the same thing. Had we been bowling, we would have done the same thing. So fair enough. Bad luck to us.”Assam began the day on 60 for 3 with No. 3 Sibsankar Roy on 28 and he saw the side past 150. However, his wicket was the first in slide that saw Assam lose three for 33 runs. While Roy scored 87, wicketkeeper Wasiqur Rahman’s 63 lifted the side to 255.Ishant Sharma, who took a five-for in the first innings, was wicketless in the second innings while allrounder Manan Sharma took 3 for 58.The match between Hyderabad and Maharashtra was abandoned without a ball bowled after rain wiped out all four days of play.Group B
ScorecardFile photo – Parvez Rasool missed a century by three runs•Ashwin RajputHaving already conceded a first-innings lead to Jammu & Kashmir on the third day, Rajasthan’s batsmen played out a draw on the fourth day in Jaipur.J&K declared early on the fourth morning on 436 for 8, adding only four runs to their overnight score to take their lead to 106. J&K seamer Rohit Sharma then took two quick wickets to leave Rajasthan at 69 for 4 by the 20th over. However, Rajesh Bishnoi and Mahipal Lomror safely saw out the day for Rajasthan with an unbroken 177-run partnership. Bishnoi scored his third first-class hundred, ending the day on 101 not out off 138 balls, while 17-year-old Lomror played a steady 65 not out.

Chelsea are set to face competition from Barcelona for the signature of Ivan Fresneda.

What’s the latest on Ivan Fresneda to Chelsea?

According to SPORT, the Blues' interest in the Real Valladolid prodigy may force Barcelona into an imminent decision.

Fresneda is looking to leave the Estadio Jose Zorrilla after relegation to the second tier and the club is working to find a quick resolution to the situation. The young right-back is looking to take the next step in his career and talks with Barcelona had been progressing well but have tailored off in recent weeks.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

The 18-year-old is valued at around €15m (£13m) but the LaLiga 2 side would be happy to accept an initial €10m (£9m) upfront with a further €5m (£4m) in additional payments.

Would Ivan Fresneda be a good signing for Chelsea?

Fresneda still emerged from the rubble of Valladolid’s relegation with a prestigious reputation and looks set to join a big European club this summer.

He has been described as a “complete” player by Matt Clark of the LaLiga Lowdown, who eulogised over the accomplished full-back:

“He is a remarkably complete right-back despite his young age, balancing his defensive duties with the odd attack too.

"He has that coveted combination of physicality and technical ability. Tall but agile, quick and athletic, he is also strong in the tackle and reads the game very well for someone so green when it comes to first-team football.”

The sentiment has been echoed by former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who added:

“He’s [Fresneda] powerful and has good technique. He gets forward well and has great energy.”

Fresneda’s defensive solidity has been especially apparent, as he ranks within the best 8% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for blocks and clearances per 90, as well as the top 20% for tackles per 90.

Last season, his supposed offensive talent wasn’t unlocked, as he failed to register any assists across 24 appearances.

However, this can largely be attributed to the ineptitude of his teammates, as his side managed just 33 goals in the league last term, the second-lowest figure in the division.

Nevertheless, his defensive qualities can still be championed and at such a raw age he has the potential to develop into a formidable talent.

From a Chelsea perspective, when you think of reliability, consistency, and defensive soundness – these three invaluable traits are synonymous with the recently-departed Cesar Azpilicueta.

The 33-year-old spent 11 years at Stamford Bridge, accumulating 508 appearances and winning nine trophies, including a Champions League and two Premier League titles.

The defender was labelled as a “warrior” and “loyal Chelsea legend” by the ownership. In a singular domestic campaign, he never made less than 25 appearances for the West Londoners and had been captain since 2019.

In the twilight days, his pace unsurprisingly wavered, but when he first arrived as a spritely 23-year-old he was renowned for his tenacity and energy, feverishly bounding down the touchline.

This was recognised by Juan Mata, who said:

“He is a strong running right-back who has pace as well, so I think he is already a complete player.”

Therefore, in the early stages of their respective careers, both Fresneda and Azpilicueta have been dubbed as ‘complete’, and although the youngster is still in the infancy of his career, he is on a frightening trajectory.

Chelsea are currently well-stocked at right-back, sporting the likes of Reece James and Malo Gusto. However, the Blues could benefit from Fresneda through its relationship with Strasbourg.

A loan at this early stage could be an intelligent move, allowing the player to develop within the multi-club project.

Arsenal are set to be forced back into the market, following the devastating news recently disseminated through the mainstream media…

Who could Arsenal sign to replace Jurrien Timber?

Having hobbled off in the Gunners’ opening-day victory over Nottingham Forest, fans had their worst fears realised on Monday as The Athletic released an article regarding Jurrien Timber’s fitness.

Within, it detailed how the Dutchman’s knee ailment was far more serious than first expected, with his absence expected to be lengthy.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

As such, Mikel Arteta will likely look to add to his summer spending in an effort to offset this hefty blow, with The Express suggesting some potential stand-ins.

One such name is Joao Cancelo, who despite having agreed personal terms with Barcelona, could have his head turned given should the north London outfit offer him a suitable package. After all, they do retain an interest in the Manchester City maverick, who is valued at just €40m (£34m).

What position does Joao Cancelo play?

Despite being a natural right-back by trade, the Portugal international rose to prominence a few years ago when he traded Juventus for the Etihad.

At the time, Pep Guardiola was struggling to nail down a true starter for his left-back spot, and to fill that vacancy he decided to try something new. Slotting the 29-year-old in an unorthodox role, the right-footed gem starred, inverting from defence into midfield and providing plenty contributing to attacks.

His standout campaign arguably came during the 2021/22 season, where he maintained a 7.33 average rating, buoyed by his seven assists, 85% pass accuracy, 1.1 key passes and 2.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

There was little he could do wrong, and everything he touched turned to gold as they strolled to Premier League title success.

His Spanish boss led the praise back in 2020: “He played exceptionally, with the ball and without the ball. He is a special talent. Defensively sometimes he needs to be consistent but when he is consistent, his focus is fantastic. He’s a fantastic guy and a football player.”

Former professional footballer Ahmed Elmohamady supported such a claim, outlining just how much the defender had evolved: “PEP has improved so many players over the years but Cancelo became a world-class player."

This kind of creativity, in the role that Arteta likely envisioned Timber fulfilling for the campaign, would have fans speedily forgetting the frustrating injury saga that is set to drag on.

Last term in the Eredivisie, the 22-year-old’s 7.03 average rating was underpinned by his four goal contributions, paired with a 92% pass accuracy and 1.4 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Considering he mainly operated as a centre-back, these were figures sure to improve in the more advanced role set out for him. Especially given, when compared to others in that role across Europe, he still sits in the top 1% for passes attempted, pass completion, progressive passes and progressive carries all per 90, via FBref.

If they are to be without the former Ajax star for the bulk of the season, it is certainly worth adding to their ever-growing list of big-money signings acquired this window.

After all, it would all be worth nothing if they allowed such a blow to derail what promises to potentially be the year where they finally overthrow the Citizens.

‘Fifties won’t take us anywhere, we will need hundreds on this pitch, says Sri Lanka batsman

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Kolkata18-Nov-2017Angelo Mathews has reason to be pleased with his comeback innings after an injury layoff that forced him to miss Sri Lanka’s historic series win over Pakistan in the UAE last month. He also has reason to be slightly miffed with himself. Having ground his way to 52 on a green, seaming Eden Gardens pitch to help his side move within sight of India’s first-innings total of 172, he chased a full, wide ball from Umesh Yadav and spooned a catch to cover.At the end of the day’s play, Mathews said he had been trying to keep the scoreboard moving during that passage of play, but could have avoided playing that shot.”I don’t think there was lapse of concentration. I was looking to score runs,” he said. “It’s just that it stopped a little bit, but no excuse. I should have left it alone, maybe.”I was looking to score runs. You can’t hang in there forever. On this wicket you will get a good ball and you tend to get out. All in all it’s about runs. You have got to score runs. It won’t be pretty. You can’t be fluent on this wicket. You have got to grind and try and score runs.”Mathews added 99 for the third wicket with Lahiru Thirimanne to move Sri Lanka to 133 for 2, but both fell soon after getting to their half-centuries to bring India back into the contest. They faced some difficult spells from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, and Mathews called all three of them “world class”.”They keep coming at you,” he said. “You can’t relax. If you see, the loose balls were very few. As I said, they are top-class bowlers. Credit to Thirimanne for the way he played. But 50s won’t take us anywhere. We need to try and score hundreds on this wicket.”Injuries have dogged Mathews right through the last year or so, and he felt this was a sign that the non-stop cricket he had played in the three previous years had caught up with him.”It has been a quite a frustrating year for me with injuries, going in and out of the side,” he said. “It’s not easy, you know, when you don’t have the same rhythm. I had a good three years of cricket from 2013 onwards; I guess it’s taking a toll on my body.”I have to manage my workload. It comes with experience as well. I have played a few more games than the rest of the boys. You have got to prepare mentally but you know it is not going to be easy here. India is a fantastic team and you have to be on the top of the game to compete against them.”Mathews has also given up captaincy and – for now, given all his fitness issues – bowling. Having endured a lean run with the bat in recent times, Mathews said he would need to raise his game to keep pulling his weight as a specialist batsman.”I can’t be thinking of me being the premier batsman and former captain,” he said. “All are equal. We have to go out there and take responsibility and try and score as many runs as possible. Fifties are not going to do any good to anyone. Not for me and not for my team.”If we get a start we need to go on to get a big one. It was a challenging wicket. All three fast bowlers bowled well. It comes with experience as well. I have played 70-odd Test matches and with experience you get to know how to get about things.”

Leeds United could finally be set to restart their summer spending, with a star acquisition reportedly nearing completion…

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

Having already welcomed Ethan Ampadu, Sam Byram and Karl Darlow to the club, with the loan capture of Joe Rodon also bolstering their ranks further, it must come as a surprise to manager Daniel Farke that his side is actually weaker now than when he first came in.

The mass exodus of Elland Road has seen numerous first-team stars jump ship, unwilling to try and steer the Whites from the mess they put them in.

Whilst frustrating, if they don’t want to be there, the German head coach likely does not want them.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Instead, he will look elsewhere for players who do, with a report from Last Word On Football now suggesting a potential deal for someone who would certainly improve them.

They note that the west Yorkshire outfit are actually set to sign Glen Kamara from Rangers, having been linked with a switch throughout the window.

His club are holding out for a fee of around £5.5m to sanction his exit, with that report also suggesting personal terms have already been agreed.

How good is Glen Kamara?

Despite their troublesome start to the campaign, there has been a sole area on the pitch that has impressed amidst all the turmoil.

Three Championship fixtures have failed to bring a victory, but at the very least a solid foundation for success has been seemingly built with a rock-solid engine room.

The Wales international has struck up an immense relationship with 17-year-old prodigy Archie Gray, boasting youth and energy in spades, with the former in particular offering vast experience despite being just 22 years old.

However, it is likely unrealistic to assume that the Thorp Arch graduate can hold down his spot for the entire term.

That is where Kamara can come in, to help fulfil that role and allow the teenager to take over in a few years, if not allow his attributes to thrive further forward as an attacking maestro.

After all, the Finland international is entering his prime years at 27 years old and would offer an added injection of pace, power, tireless energy and economical passing.

To justify these claims, his performances throughout the 2021/22 Scottish Premiership season are worth viewing, as his 7.01 average rating was buoyed by a host of outstanding other figures.

With three goals, three assists and a 91% pass accuracy, alongside 1.3 key passes and one tackle per game, there is little that Kamara did not excel at, via Sofascore.

The perfect all-rounder, his presence alone could help elevate the whole team.

It was therefore no surprise to see him lauded by former boss Steven Gerrard, who noted:

“He’s a terrific footballer in possession, always playing with his head up and looking to connect defence and attack.

“But what pleased me most is what I spoke about when we signed him in terms of how he’ll be out of possession. Will he hunt the ball back, be aggressive, work hard for the team and be a monster in the middle of the park?

“He showed signs of that against Kilmarnock and potentially he can become a top midfielder.” This was supplemented by a further quote, where the Liverpool legend branded him a "class act".

Then, comparing his figures with Gray’s opening three games of the Championship term, it becomes clear that whilst promising he remains raw.

Kamara could help hone his 81% pass accuracy and 1.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore, into a more refined and confident midfield presence, moulding the youngster in his image whilst allowing him to retain his youthful exuberance that has instantly endeared him to fans.

It would likely take no time at all for Gray to become a hero at Elland Road, but should he manage to copy the performances of his potential new teammate, this would be a venture surely fast-tracked.